Project by

About this project

“For many folks, CIAW provides them with more Irish traditional music, dance, songs and crafts in one concentrated week than they’re likely to hear and see the other 51 weeks of the year.’’ Myron Bretholz, Irish Bodhran Musician and Teacher-- Baltimore. Quoted in the Wall Street Journal article “The Green Hills of the Catskills” by Earle Hitchner

The Catskills Irish Arts Week is in its 18th Year in the Northern Catskills region in Greene County and will take place July 15-21, 2012. Based around East Durham where our host organization, the M. J. Quill Irish Cultural and Sports Centremaintains its office, the CIAW fulfills Quill Centre’s mission statement of keeping the Irish musical heritage alive in the historic Irish Catskills region through its a highly successful and organized summer school taking place there every July since 1995. Thousands of students from all across the U.S.A. and Canada and hundreds of artists have benefited from the CIAW over the past 17 years as we built a real Irish Village Community every year. Each summer over 100 classes in traditional Irish instruments, songs, dance instruction and Celtic crafts have been offered by some of the finest exponents teaching and performing both in Ireland and North America garnering a world-wide reputation in the process.

The Monday to Friday classes are bolstered by late afternoon lectures on topics chosen by experts among the staff artists, nightly concerts on the Quill Festival Grounds

and dances (ceilithe) in Resort Halls (Shamrock and Weldon Houses and the Inn At Leeds) featuring all the CIAW recruited teaching and performing staff. The teachers and students then all fan out to a series of music jam sessions

playing and socializing alongside one another in the area's resorts and roadhouses that evoke an era when traditional music and dance was shared in informal settings in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. And it is very expensive to accomplish all that and while we more than punched above our weight in years prior to this, the economy has hit us hard this year along with many of you.

Funding from public and private sources is down in the past few years and if we are to continue to reach our students with a high caliber program we need to reach out to a wider group of supporters this year. It is important to keep on a track that also serves younger students with music and dance lessons through our classes and keep the week affordable for families and others who also have to incur travel expenses for a week in upstate New York. The CIAW also is a very important economic engine for the Greene County area around East Durham so it is vital that we keep the week going at a level that makes a difference for the Catskills region and for our attendees.

We hope that potential donors appreciate the level of attention the CIAW has given to the preservation and fostering of Irish music in America and recognize that we could use assistance this year from the wider community NOW.

The need is extremely critical and urgent at present if the Catskills Irish Arts Week is to survive a very steep challenge this year...and its future existence.

FAQ

Have a question?
If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.

Rewards

Pledge $1 or more

You are fan of live traditional Irish music and dance and wish to encourage it wherever you can.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $5 or more

1 backer

You would like to continue the creative work of the Catskills Irish Arts Week in keeping the tradition alive at a minimal level of contribution.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $10 or more

4 backers

MP3 file containing one special live performance item captured from either an Evening Concert or the Saturday Andy McGann Festival at the 2012 Catskills Irish Arts Week selected by the Artistic Director Paul Keating

Estimated delivery:Sep 2012

You selected

Pledge $15 or more

5 backers

A Selection of three MP3 files highlighting three legendary live performances from either a Weeknight Evening Concert or the Saturday Andy McGann Festival at the 2012 Catskills Irish Arts Week as chosen by the Artistic Director Paul Keating

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

You selected

Pledge $25 or more

31 backers
Limited (9 left of 40)

Double CD "Craic in the Catskills" featuring Live music highlights from the Catskills Irish Arts Week 2010

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $25 or more

Pledge $30 or more

1 backer

CIAW Flute Teacher Catherine McEvoy is launching a CD entitled "A Musical Vision" featuring blind musicians playing in the Irish Tradition from her Primary School at Child Visions where she has been a music teacher for many years.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2012

You selected

Pledge $30 or more

20 backers

From Shore to Shore DVD containing the original 1993 Documentary on Traditional Irish Music in New York on one disk and additional footage called Retrospective Reels on a second disk. It features many musicians who have appeared at the Catskills Irish Arts Week over its 17 Years. Produced by Pat Mullins of Cherry Lane Productions to highlight the history of New York's Irish music community, sales assist young aspiring traditional Irish musicians at the Catskills Irish Arts Week. Further description available here: http://www.cherrylaneproductions.com/s2s/s2s.html

Estimated delivery:Sep 2012

You selected

Pledge $35 or more

19 backers
Limited (1 left of 20)

Autographed copy of Cathal McConnell "I Have Travelled This Country" published in 2011 and being launched at the 2012 Catskills Irish Arts Week where Cathal McConnell will be teaching Singing in the Irish Tradition. It contains a brief biography of one of the founding members of the Boys of the Lough and is a collection of 123 songs from the storied repertoire of the Fermanagh-born singer and flute player in both verse and accompanying audio DVD with Cathal singing each song unaccompanied.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $35 or more

4 backers
Limited (1 left of 5)

Autographed copy of The Irish Fiddle Book: The Art of Traditional Fiddle-Playing by Matt Cranitch
A comprehensive tutor covering all aspects of Irish Fiddle-playing, dance music and slow-air playing. None better than Matt to teach you, with his enormous experience both as a teacher and player.

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $40 or more

7 backers
Limited (23 left of 30)

Double CD "Craic in the Catskills featuring live concert performances from the 2010 Catskills Irish Arts Week AND a souvenir T-shirt

Estimated delivery:Sep 2012

You selected

Pledge $50 or more

24 backers

Reservation to receive Craic in the Catskills Volume II featuring live music recorded at this summer's Catskills Irish Arts Week 2012 on a Double CD. Donations here will generate funding to accomplish this goal which would help in funding the CIAW in 2013. A special Craic in the Catskills T-shirt will be part of the package also.

Estimated delivery:Feb 2013

You selected

Pledge $50 or more

4 backers
Limited (11 left of 15)

Private one on one lesson via skype with a participating 2012 CIAW Staff Teacher per arrangement through CIAW Artistic Director Paul Keating at a mutually agreed upon time

Estimated delivery:Sep 2012

You selected

Pledge $75 or more

19 backers

Cairdre Catskills Pass entitling purchaser to attend all five evening Concerts and Dances (Ceilithe) nightly Monday to Friday July 15-20) and Admission to the Saturday Andy McGann Festival on July 21 at the MJ Quill Festival Grounds. Supporters at this level will be seated in front row seats for all the concert performances.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $75 or more

14 backers

Private lesson one on one with a CIAW staff teacher during the Catskills Irish Arts Week in East Durham at mutually agreeable time July 16-20.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $80 or more

10 backers
Limited (10 left of 20)

The Companion to Irish Traditional Music is a key reference for the interested enthusiast, session player and professional performer. It is also a profoundly comprehensive, one-stop resource for every library, school and home with an interest in the distinctive rituals, qualities and history of Irish culture. And it is a vital resource for all levels in education, particularly valuable at third level as both textbook and research resource. The book will be launched by editor and Irish journalist and musician Fintan Vallely who is teaching at the Catskills Irish Arts Week and every serious follower of Irish traditional music will want to add this to their library. 856pp published November, 2011.

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $100 or more

30 backers
All gone!

Copies of Fintan Vallely's newly revised Companion To Traditional Irish Music (856 pages of fascinating info on trad music with easy indexing) and Cathal McConnell's "I Have Traveled this Country", containing a repertoire of 123 songs with accompanying audio DVD.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $125 or more

7 backers

A Gift package of five new CDs including newly launched material from Caitlin nic Gabhann, Dylan Foley, Dan Gurney, Dermot Byrne & Floriane Blancke and Loretta Egan Murphy which will all be launched at the 2012 Catskills Irish Arts Week

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $150 or more

5 backers

Reservation for a Craic in the Catskills Volume II Double CD with your name listed on the CD as a contributor and a Commemorative T-shirt from the Catskills Irish Arts Week.

Pledge $250 or more

3 backers

Emerald Supporter of the Catskills Irish Arts Week who wishes to support the summer school in 2012 and underwrite its Andy McGann Festival of Traditional Irish Music and Dance on Saturday, July 21 from noon to 7 p.m. In return for the donation up to five Andy McGann Festival tickets will be available for this level of sponsorship.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $300 or more

0 backers
Limited (1 left of 1)

An assortment box lot of 30 Celtic CDs from
Compass, Green Linnet and Mulligan donated by Compass Records. That would be a $450-600 value at
artist/venue prices

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $500 or more

1 backer

Golden Supporter of the Catskills Irish Arts Week's historic and valuable contributions over 17 years in fostering traditional music, song and dance in upstate New York and the role of the M.J. Quill Irish Cultural and Sports Centre in promoting Irish culture in the Catskills and carrying the tradition from one generation to the next. Contributors will be entitled to ten tickets to both the Weeknight Evening Concerts (July 16-20) and the Saturday (July 21st) Andy McGann Festival.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $600 or more

0 backers
Limited (1 left of 1)

Hand Cast High Karat Gold Celtic Pendant one of a kind piece signed and made by Iris Nevins, 20K Gold, with Watermelon Tourmaline Crystal. Retail Value $795. Yours for a donation of $600

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $1,500 or more

1 backer
Limited (1 left of 2)

House Concert in New York Metropolitan Area featuring selected CIAW staff musicians curated by CIAW Artistic Director Paul Keating at a mutually agreeable timeframe over the next year

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

You selected

Pledge $2,500 or more

1 backer
Limited (2 left of 3)

Passage and cabin for two aboard Joanie Madden's Folk N Irish Cruise sailing Feb. 2-9, 2013 to the Eastern Caribbean. Travel with 50 top Irish Entertainers including many CIAW staffers aboard the Norwegian EPIC. More info available at www.joaniemaddencruise.com. Does not include taxes/fees/gratuities, travel to Florida or any cabin upgrades.

Estimated delivery:Feb 2013

You selected

Pledge $3,500 or more

0 backers
Limited (1 left of 1)

House Concert with CHERISH THE LADIES when arrangements can be made when the group is on tour in your area per mutual agreement with CTL Director Joanie Madden and host

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

Funding period

Jun 23, 2012 - Jul 15, 2012
(22 days)

Eureka! You've found our little secret.

Sign up for our Happening email for all the inside info about arts and culture in the Kickstarter universe and beyond.